Basketball notebook: Gaddy already making improvements

Game two for Abdul Gaddy was Saturday night. The freshman seemed more in sync from the time he checked in.

Friday night Gaddy finished with five points, two turnovers, an assist and a steal. He also picked up two personal fouls during his 16 minutes on the floor.

Saturday night against Belmont, his line was slightly better: eight points, three rebounds (all offensive), two assists. He picked up two more fouls and turned it over once in 26 minutes.

But with Gaddy’s game, the box score won’t always tell the story. He appeared more fluid on the court. There was less guessing and more playing.

“Played with more confidence,” Gaddy said of his second game. “Trying to get my rhythm out there. I thought I got a better rhythm out there (Saturday) than (Friday). I’m starting to get more comfortable with the team. We’re starting to build a better chemistry.”

Saturday night was the first dose of the four-guard lineup Washington can offer this season. Gaddy, Isaiah Thomas, Venoy Overton and Quincy Pondexter were on the floor together to start the second half. They rolled offensively, but had issues defensively. Gaddy enjoys that lineup.

“It’s to our advantage,” Gaddy said. “It makes us that much quicker. Any one of us can bring the ball up and the rest fill the lanes. I think coach is starting to see that. I think he’s going to use that more often. We’ll see as the season goes on.”

That grouping makes many think of the 1997 Arizona team that won the national title. It often played four guards: freshman Mike Bibby, Miles Simon, Jason Terry and Michael Dickerson. Washington has watched tape of that team to see how it operated together.

In just two games, Gaddy has made strides. He found more spots in the offense Saturday night. He also defended better Saturday than he did Friday.

“Could have done better on defense (Friday),” Gaddy said. “I think I improved on that (Saturday), keeping my man out of the lane. On defensive rotations, overall defense, I think I did better (Saturday).”

He expects more improvement Sunday.

“(I’m) just taking the things I learned in practice and converting them in the game,” Gaddy said.

Trent, Sherrer debut

Freshman Clarence Trent entered the game with the score tied at 34 in the first half. Washington went on an 11-0 run thereafter.

Trent pulled down a defensive rebound. The following play his hustle caused Belmont to knock the ball out of bounds. Washington coach Lorenzo Romar liked what he saw from Trent.

“The only reason Clarence didn’t play the first game is, number one, we have a lot of bodies,” Romar said. “Two, Clarence is learning our system, and sometimes until you’re ready to go in there mentally, being in the right place and the right time, you’re not ready to go in there.

“But tonight, as we looked on the floor, we knew we weren’t rebounding well enough. We know Clarence is going to make something happen one way or another. He plays with energy, and he produces. So we decided to give him an opportunity to go in there and he did a good job.”

Walk-on Brendan Sherrer also received his opportunity. He entered the game with a couple minutes to go, much to the pleasure of the Dawg Pack student section, which chanted his name. Gaddy tried to have the team get the ball to Sherrer for a shot attempt, but they were not able to. Maybe Sunday will be his day.